About the Award
Our annual juried award shines a light on bold Scottish filmmaking that reimagines our relationship with the natural world. With a £500 cash prize, it honours originality, impact and creative vision in environmental storytelling. Finalists screen throughout the festival weekend, with the winner announced at Closing Night.
2026 Finalists
Meet the four films shortlisted for this year’s North Light Award for Best Scottish Environmental Film. Experience their work on the big screen at Montrose Playhouse during Montrose LandxSea Film Festival, from 11–13 September 2026.
Meet the 2026 Jury
We are honoured to introduce the jury selecting this year’s North Light Award winner.
Amanda Thomson
Artist and author
Amanda Thomson is a Scottish artist and writer whose work spans creative non-fiction, printmaking, photography and video. Her practice explores place, belonging and how we come to understand the natural world through art and language. She holds a PhD in interdisciplinary arts from the University of the Highlands and Islands, with research focused on Scottish forests and place-based practice. Her books include A Scots Dictionary of Nature and Belonging: Natural Histories of Place, Identity and Home, shortlisted for the Wainwright Prize. She also contributes to The Guardian’s Country Diary and was Artist-in-Residence with Cairngorms Connect.
Till Dietsche
Director, CINEMARE International Ocean Film Festival, Kiel, Germany
Till Dietsche is the founder of CINEMARE International Ocean Film Festival Kiel, which celebrated its tenth edition in 2026. Inspired by his experience as a diving instructor and witnessing the impact of human activity beneath the surface, he created the festival to bring the ocean onto land and into cinemas. CINEMARE combines film, science communication and conservation, bringing together researchers, NGOs, policymakers and the blue economy. Till previously founded Taiwan’s 39 Hour Short Film Contestival and has taught documentary ethics and practical filmmaking in Taiwan and Germany. He holds a PhD in Chinese Studies and serves on the board of the international Green Film Network.
Additional jurors to be announced.
Award Announcement
The North Light Award 2026 will be presented at the start of the festival Closing Night screening on Sunday 13 September at 7:30pm.
Congratulations to all this year’s finalists!
Made in Montrose
The festival awards are handmade in Montrose by Irene Hughes Pottery and The Clay Half.
Film images, from top: The Herring Queen; Expressing the Earth